Fold-type data proccesing apparatus having a hinge

ABSTRACT

A fold-type cellular phone has a top unit, a bottom unit and a hinge coupling together the top unit and the bottom unit while allowing the top unit to turn and swivel with respect to the bottom unit. The top unit is first unfolded from a first folded position to an attitude angle of 160 to 170 degrees, and swiveled by 180 degrees to be folded onto the bottom unit in a second folded position at an attitude angle of 180 degrees. The swivel movement of the top unit causes a cam assembly to turn the top unit from the attitude angle of 160-170 degrees to an attitude angle of 180 degrees in the second folded position, thereby allowing the top unit to assume a suitable attitude with respect to the bottom unit.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] (a) Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a fold-type data processingapparatus having a hinge and, more particularly, to a fold-type dataprocessing apparatus, such as cellular phone, hand-held personalcomputer and portable data assistant, having a hinge mechanism therein.

[0003] (b) Description of the Related Art

[0004] Recent cellular phones have a variety of functions in addition tothe conventional telephone function, such as internet browser, e-mailand schedule management functions. Thus, the cellular phone may bereferred to as a portable data processing apparatus or personal dataassistant. This fact necessitates the cellular phone to have alarger-size display unit to display thereon a larger amount of imageinformation including figures as well as characters and numerals.

[0005] To solve a trade-off between a larger-size screen for the displayunit and a smaller weight of the cellular phone as encountered in theconventional technique, a fold-type structure is increasingly used forthe chassis of the cellular phone. In general, the fold-type structureof the cellular phone is such that the chassis of the cellular phone hasa top chassis section (top unit) and a bottom chassis section (bottomunit) coupled together via a hinge, and the display unit and thekeyboard are exposed for operation by unfolding the top chassis sectionwith respect to the bottom chassis section. A fold-type structure hasbeen proposed wherein the screen of the display unit is exposed in afolded position of the chassis for allowing the cellular phone tofunction as an e-mail or browser unit without switch-ON of the telephonefunction.

[0006] JP Patent Publication 11(1999)-215218 (first publication)describes a fold-type structure of the cellular phone wherein the topchassis section mounting thereon a display unit and the bottom chassissection mounting thereon a keyboard are coupled together via a balljoint for allowing swiveling of the top chassis section in any directionwith respect to the bottom chassis section.

[0007] In the fold-type structure described in the first publication, itis difficult to fix the relative attitude of the top chassis sectionwith respect to the bottom chassis section during an unfolded positionthereof, because both the sections are coupled via the ball joint. Thisrather hinders the user from handling the cellular phone comfortably.

[0008] JP Patent Publication 2002-158758 (second publication) describesa fold-type structure of the cellular phone, wherein the top chassissection mounting thereon a display unit and the bottom chassis sectionmounting thereon a keyboard are coupled together for allowing swivelingof the top chassis section with respect to the bottom chassis section sothat the operating planes of the display unit and the keyboard aredirected in the same direction.

[0009] In the fold-type structure described in the second publication,if one of the chassis sections is swiveled with respect to the other,with surface portions of both the chassis sections being in contact withone another, the contacted surface portions may have mechanical damagesthereon. This problem is common to the fold-type structure described inthe first publication.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0010] It is an object of the present invention to provide a fold-typedata processing apparatus having an improved hinge mechanism therein,wherein the relative attitude between two chassis sections is controlledwith ease.

[0011] It is another object of the present invention to provide afold-type data processing apparatus having an improved hinge mechanism,wherein two chassis sections are prohibited from swiveling with respectto one another when the surface portions of two chassis sections are incontact with one another.

[0012] It is a further object of the present invention to provide suchan improved hinge mechanism.

[0013] The present invention provides a fold-type data processingapparatus including a first unit, a second unit and a hinge mechanismfor coupling together the first unit and the second unit and allowingthe second unit to turn and swivel with respect to the first unit viathe hinge mechanism, the hinge mechanism including: a shaft having afirst axis and mounting thereon the second unit for allowing the secondunit to be turned around the first axis; a swiveling member fixed ontothe first unit and allowing the shaft and the second unit to swivel withrespect to the first unit around a second axis perpendicular to thefirst axis; at least one projection member fixed onto the shaft; and acontrol member fixed onto the first unit and having a side wall, atleast a portion of the side wall having a slanted surface, wherein theprojection member abuts the side wall to restrict a movement of thesecond unit.

[0014] The present invention also provides a hinge mechanism including:a base; a shaft having a first axis; a first support member forsupporting the shaft and allowing the shaft to rotate around the firstaxis; a second support member for supporting the first support memberwith respect to the base and allowing the first support member and theshaft to swivel with respect to the base around a second axisperpendicular to the first axis; and a cam assembly for converting aswivel movement of the shaft with respect to the base to a rotationalmovement of the shaft.

[0015] In accordance with the fold-type data processing apparatus of thepresent invention, the attitude of the second unit with respect to thefirst unit is controlled by the rotational movement of the shaftconverted from the swivel movement of the second unit while using theprojection member on the shaft and the control member fixed onto thefirst unit. Thus, a desired attitude of the second unit can be obtainedby the swivel movement of the second unit.

[0016] In accordance with the hinge mechanism of the present invention,the cam assembly converts the swivel movement of the shaft to therotational movement of the shaft, whereby a desired rotational movementcan be obtained simply by swiveling the rotational shaft. The above andother objects, features and advantages of the present invention will bemore apparent from the following description, referring to theaccompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017]FIG. 1A is a top plan view of a cellular phone having top andbottom chassis sections in a first folded position of chassis, and shownas a fold-type data processing apparatus according to a first embodimentof the present invention.

[0018]FIG. 1B is a top plan view of the cellular phone of FIG. 1A in anunfolded position of the chassis.

[0019]FIG. 1C is a top plan view of the cellular phone of FIG. 1A in aswiveled position wherein the top chassis section is swiveled withrespect to the bottom chassis section from the unfolded position of FIG.1B.

[0020]FIG. 1D is a top plan view of the cellular phone of FIG. 1A in asecond folded position of the chassis.

[0021]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the hinge used in the cellularphone of FIG. 1A.

[0022]FIGS. 3A and 3B are a schematic top plan view and side view,respectively, of the hinge of FIG. 2.

[0023]FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the torque generator disposed in thehinge of FIG. 2.

[0024]FIGS. 5A and 5B are a perspective front view and rear view,respectively, of the hinge of FIG. 2 in an unfolded position of thechassis.

[0025]FIG. 6A is a perspective side view of the hinge of FIG. 2 in a90-degree swiveled position of the chassis, FIG. 6B is a top plan viewof the cellular phone in this swiveled position, and FIG. 6C is asectional view taken along line VI-VI in FIG. 6B.

[0026]FIG. 7A is a top plan view of a control member for controlling theattitude angle between the chassis sections.

[0027]FIG. 7B is a schematic side view of the hinge in the foldedposition.

[0028]FIG. 7C is a schematic side view of the hinge of FIG. 7B in aslightly-unfolded position.

[0029]FIG. 7D is a schematic side view of the hinge in the unfoldedposition.

[0030]FIG. 8A is a top plan view of a control member for controlling theattitude angle between the chassis sections of the hinge in a cellularphone shown as a fold-type data processing apparatus according to asecond embodiment of the present invention.

[0031]FIG. 8B is a schematic side view of the hinge in the first foldedposition of the hinge in the second embodiment.

[0032]FIG. 8C is a schematic side view of the hinge in an unfoldedposition thereof in the second embodiment.

[0033]FIG. 8D is a schematic side view of the hinge in the second foldedposition thereof in the second embodiment.

[0034]FIG. 9A is a top plan view of a control member for controlling theattitude angle between the chassis sections of the hinge in a cellularphone shown as a fold-type data processing apparatus according to athird embodiment of the present invention.

[0035]FIG. 9B is a schematic side view of the hinge in the first foldedposition thereof in the third embodiment.

[0036]FIG. 9C is a schematic side view of the hinge in an unfoldedposition thereof in the third embodiment.

[0037]FIG. 9D is a schematic side view of the hinge in the second foldedposition thereof in the third embodiment.

[0038]FIG. 10A is a top plan view of a control member for controllingthe attitude angle between the chassis sections of the hinge in acellular phone shown as a fold-type data processing apparatus accordingto a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

[0039]FIG. 10B is a schematic side view of the hinge in the first foldedposition of the hinge in the fourth embodiment.

[0040]FIG. 10C is a schematic side view of the hinge in an unfoldedposition thereof in the fourth embodiment.

[0041]FIG. 10D is a schematic side view of the hinge in the secondfolded position thereof in the fourth embodiment.

[0042]FIG. 11A is a top plan view of the cellular phone of the fourthembodiment in the swiveled position of the top chassis section, and FIG.11B is a sectional view taken along line XI-XI in FIG. 11A.

[0043]FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram exemplifying the abutment betweenthe projections on the shaft and the control member in the fold-typedata processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the presentinvention.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0044] Now, the present invention is more specifically described withreference to accompanying drawings, wherein similar constituent elementsare designated by similar reference numerals. It is to be noted that thepresent invention is an improvement from the inventions described in JPPatent Applications 2001-30395, 2002-107405 and 2002-189488 whichdescribe improvements of operational functions and hinges of cellularphones, and is devised based especially on the invention described in2002-107405.

[0045] First Embodiment

[0046] Referring to FIGS. 1A to 1D, there are shown a plurality ofattitudes of the chassis of a cellular phone, generally designated bynumeral 10 and shown as a fold-type data processing apparatus accordingto a first embodiment of the present invention. More specifically, FIGS.1A to 1D show a first folded position (first closed position) of a topchassis section (top unit) of the cellular phone 10, wherein the topunit is folded onto a bottom chassis section (bottom unit), an unfoldedposition (open position) wherein the top unit 200 is unfolded from thebottom unit 100 by turning the top unit 200 in the direction D1 from thefirst folded position of FIG. 1A via a hinge 300 fixed onto the bottomunit 100, a swiveled position wherein the top unit 200 is swiveled by 90degrees in the direction D2 via the hinge 300 from the unfolded positionof FIG. 1B, and a second folded position wherein the top unit 200 isfurther swiveled by 90 degrees in the direction D2 via the hinge 300from the swiveled position of FIG. 1C, respectively.

[0047] The hinge 300 in the cellular phone 10 is of a two-axialstructure and couples the top unit 200 and the bottom unit 100 togetherso that the top unit 200 can be turned and swiveled via the hinge 300with respect to the bottom unit 100. The top unit 200 can be turned inthe direction D1 via the hinge 300 for closing and exposing the surfaceof the bottom unit 100, and can be swiveled in the direction D2 via thehinge 300 with respect to the bottom unit 100 from the unfoldedposition. The bottom unit 100 mounts a keyboard 101 and a microphone 102on the main surface thereof, whereas the top unit 200 mounts an elongatedisplay unit 201 and a speaker 202 on the main surface thereof.

[0048] In the first folded position of FIG. 1A, the main surfaces ofboth the top and bottom units 200 and 100 oppose one another, wherebythe keyboard 101 and the display unit 201 are protected against anexternal force by both the top and bottom units 200 and 100,respectively. In the first folded position, the hinge 300 restricts theswiveling of the top unit 200 in the direction D2. In a slightlyunfolded position wherein the top unit 200 is slightly turned in thedirection D1 with respect to the bottom unit 100 via the hinge 300, thetop unit 200 is released from the restriction of the swiveling in thedirection D2 by the hinge 300.

[0049] In the unfolded position of FIG. 1B wherein the top unit 200 isturned in the direction D1, the keyboard 101, display unit 201,microphone 102 and speaker 202 are exposed from the chassis, therebyallowing operation of the cellular phone 10 for dialing a call number,key input, speaking etc. The hinge 300 restricts the attitude angle ofthe top unit 200 with respect to the bottom unit 100 within a rangebetween 160 degrees and 170 degrees in the direction D1 in the unfoldedposition of FIG. 1B, whereas the hinge 300 releases the restriction ofthe swiveling of the top unit 200 in the direction D2 in the unfoldedposition whereby the top unit 200 can be swiveled for any desired angle.When the top unit 200 is swiveled in the direction D2, the angle betweenthe main surface of the top unit 200 may be maintained within the rangebetween 160 degrees and 170 degrees with respect to the main surface ofthe bottom unit 100. In an alternative, the angle between the mainsurfaces may be increased with the increase of the swiveled angle of thetop unit 200.

[0050] In the swiveled position of FIG. 1C wherein the top unit 200 isswiveled by 90 degrees in the direction D2 from the unfolded position ofFIG. 1B, the top unit 200 may be temporarily fixed by a snappingengagement at the 90-degree swiveled position. In such a case, the anglebetween the main surfaces of both the top unit 200 and the bottom unit100 may be maintained at 160 to 170 degrees or may be increased up to180 degrees and fixed thereto.

[0051] In the second folded position of FIG. 1D wherein the top unit 200is further swiveled by 90 degrees via the hinge 300 in the direction D2from the position of FIG. 1C, the top unit 200 is fixed onto the bottomunit 100 with the display unit 201 being exposed from the chassis at thetop thereof. The hinge 300 also restricts the swiveling of the top unit200 in the second folded position, whereas the hinge 300 allowsswiveling of the top unit 200 by 360 degrees in the direction D2 in aslightly unfolded position wherein the top unit 200 is slightly turnedin the direction D1 with respect to the bottom unit 100 from the secondfolded position.

[0052] Now the two-axial structure of the hinge 300 will be detailedhereinafter.

[0053] Referring to FIG. 2, the hinge 300 includes a base plate 301provided with a pair of brackets 301 a and 301 b at both the endsthereof, which are fixed onto the bottom unit 100 for fixing the hinge300. The hinge 300 includes a torque generator 302 having a cylindricalpost standing vertically at the center of the base plate 301 andmounting, at the top thereof, a control member (or control projection)303 and a coupling bracket 304 for controlling the attitude anglebetween the top unit 200 and the bottom unit 100 during the swivelmovement of the top unit 200.

[0054] The control member 303 is fixed onto a fixed shaft (not shown inthe drawing) of the torque generator 302 which is fixed onto the baseplate 301. The coupling bracket 304 is of a U-character shape, and has abottom plate fixed onto the cylindrical post of the torque generator 302and a pair of side plates 304 a and 304 b extending from both the endsof the bottom plate in the direction perpendicular to the bottom plate.The control member 303 penetrates the bottom plate of the couplingbracket 304 for allowing swiveling of the coupling bracket 304 withrespect to the control member 303 in the direction D2 around the fixedshaft of the cylindrical post of the torque generator 302. The torquegenerator 302 generates a torque in the direction D2 between the fixedshaft and the cylindrical post of the torque generator 302, the torqueproviding a snapping engagement or slight temporary engagement duringrotation of the cylindrical post, as will be detailed later.

[0055] A shaft 305 rotatably penetrates the side plates 304 a and 304 bof the coupling bracket 304. The portion of the shaft 305 sandwichedbetween the side plates 304 a and 304 b of the coupling bracket 304 hasa pair of projections 306 a and 306 b at the central position thereof,thereby allowing the projections 306 a and 306 b to abut the controlmember 303. The projections 306 a and 306 b function as swivel stoppersfor stopping the swiveling of the shaft 305 by the abutment to thecontrol member 303. The provision of the projections 306 a and 306 bincreases the design choice for the position and configuration of thecontrol member 303.

[0056] Referring to FIGS. 3A and 3B, the control member 303 is of atruncated cone and has a slot 303 a on the slanted side wall thereof.The slot 303 a has vertical side walls and receives therein the tip ofprojection 306 a or 306 b.

[0057]FIG. 3B shows the hinge 300 in the folded position of FIG. 1Awherein the top unit 200 is folded onto the bottom unit 100. In thefolded position, the first projection 306 a on the shaft 305 is receivedin the slot 303 a of the control member 303, whereby the top unit 200cannot swivel in the direction D2.

[0058] L-shaped brackets 307 and 308 are provided on both the ends ofthe shaft 305, and fixed onto the top unit 200. Folding/unfolding torquegenerators 309 and 310 are fixed onto both the side surfaces 304 a and304 b, respectively, of the coupling bracket 304, allowing the shaft 305to penetrate therethrough, whereby a turning torque is generated in thedirection D1 as in the case of the swiveling torque generator 302. Thisturning torque also generates a snapping engagement during folding andunfolding the top unit 200.

[0059] Referring to FIG. 4, there is shown a schematic configuration ofthe swiveling torque generator 302. The swiveling torque generator 302includes a hollow cylindrical post 320, and a cylindrical fixed shaft321, a pair of rotation cams 322 and 323, a pair of fixed cams 324 and325 and a coil spring 326 which are received in the hollow cylindricalpost 302. The fixed shaft 321 penetrates the top plate and bottom plateof the cylindrical post 320 for allowing rotation thereof, has a bottomend fixed onto the base plate 301 and a top end on which the controlmember 303 is fixed.

[0060] The pair of rotation cams 322 and 323 are respectively fixed ontothe inner surfaces of the top plate and the bottom plate of thecylindrical post 320. The fixed shaft 321 penetrates the pair ofrotation cams 322 and 323 for allowing rotation thereof. The pair offixed cams 324 and 325 have configurations matched with the shapes ofthe rotation cams 322 and 323, respectively, allowing the fixed shaft321 to penetrate therethrough. The fixed cams 324 and 325 are fixed ontothe fixed shaft 321 in the rotational direction by a suitable means andallowed to move in the axial direction of the fixed shaft 321. The coilspring 326 is sandwiched between the fixed cams 324 and 325, therebyurging the fixed cams 324 and 325 in the opposite directions.

[0061] A specific combination of the rotation cam 322 and the fixed cam324 as well as a specific combination of the rotation cam 323 and thefixed cam 325 is employed wherein the convex and concave positions ofthe rotation cam 322 or 323 having a periodic structure are suitablycombined with the concave and convex positions of the fixed cam 324 or325 with a period of 90 degrees. This combination generates a pull-intorque to pull the top unit 200 toward each of the swivel positions ofthe top unit 200 shown in FIGS. 1A to 1D in the vicinity of the each ofthe swivel positions. It is to be noted that by slightly deviating thephase of the concave and convex positions between the rotation cam andthe fixed cam, a rattling torque can be avoided during generation of thesnapping engagement.

[0062] The turning torque generators 309 and 310 by which thefolding/unfolding torque is generated during folding and unfolding thetop unit 200 have basic configurations similar to those of FIG. 4. It isto be noted however that the pull-in torque is generated by the camassembly in the vicinity of attitude angles of zero and 180 degreesbetween the top unit 200 and the bottom unit 100. In particular, apull-in torque should be generated at a position around an attitudeangle of 160 to 170 degrees, such as the position illustrated in FIG.1B, to pull in the top unit 200 toward an attitude angle of 180 degrees.

[0063] As described above, FIGS. 2, 3A and 3B show the hinge at thefolded position of the chassis. In the folded position, one of theprojections 306 a and 306 b, i.e., the first projection 306 a, on theshaft 305 is received in the slot 303 a of the control member 303,whereby the top unit 200 cannot be swiveled in the direction D2.

[0064]FIG. 5A shows the front view of the hinge in an unfolded positionof the chassis, such as the position shown in FIG. 1B, whereas FIG. 5Bshows the rear view of the hinge in the unfolded position.

[0065] When the top unit 200 is unfolded from the folded position byturning the top unit 200 in the direction D1, as shown in FIG. 5A, thefirst projection 306 a is located outside the slot 303 a of the controlmember 303, whereby the top unit 200 can be swiveled in the directionD2. If the top unit 200 is further turned in the direction D1, as shownin FIG. 5B, the second projection 306 b on the shaft 305 abuts the sidewall of the control member 303 and thus is stopped thereby. Thus, themaximum angle of the top unit 200 with respect to the bottom unit 100during the turning of the top unit 200 is determined by the position ofthe rear side wall of the control member 303.

[0066] The top unit 200 is then swiveled from the unfolded position ofFIG. 5B in the direction D2. During the swiveling operation, the turningtorque generators 309 and 310 generate a pull-in torque on the shaft 305toward a 180-degree attitude of the top unit 200 with respect to thebottom unit 100, whereby the second projection 306 b on the shaft 305moves along the side wall of the control member 303 while abuttingthereto.

[0067]FIG. 6A shows the hinge at a 90-degree swiveled position whereinthe top unit 200 is swiveled from the unfolded position by 90 degrees,The 90-degree swiveled position of the cellular phone is shown in FIGS.6B and 6C, wherein FIG. 6C is taken along line VI-VI in FIG. 6B.

[0068] In the 90-degree swiveled position wherein the top unit 200 isswiveled by 90 degrees from the unfolded position, the second projection306 b still abuts the side wall of the control member 303, as shown inFIG. 6A. The truncated-cone shape of the control member 303 allows thetop unit 200 to maintain the 160 degree attitude with respect to thebottom unit 100 in the 90 degree swiveled position of the top unit 200.

[0069] When the top unit 200 is further swiveled to reach a 180 degreeswiveled position, the second projection 306 b reaches the slot 303 a ofthe control member 303 and is received therein, whereby the top unit 200cannot be swiveled any more in the direction D2. In the 180-degreeswiveled position, the top unit 200 covers the bottom unit 100, with thedisplay unit 201 of the top unit 200 being exposed at the top of thechassis, as shown in FIG. 1D.

[0070]FIGS. 7A to 7D show the control mechanism of the hinge, whereinFIG. 7A is a top plan view of the control member 303, FIG. 7B is aschematic side view of the hinge in the first folded position, FIG. 7Cis another schematic side view of the hinge in a slightly unfoldedposition, and FIG. 7D is another schematic side view of the hinge in aninitial full-unfolded position.

[0071] As illustrated in FIG. 7A, the control member 303 is located atthe swivel center, and has a slot 303 a on the side wall of thetruncated cone at the front side thereof. The slot 303 a has a widthsuited for receiving the tip portion of projection 306 a or 306 b, and adepth determined so that the top unit 200 is folded onto the bottom unit100 at an attitude angle of zero degree upon receipt of the projection303 a or 303 b by the slot 303 a. It is to be noted that the bottomsurface of the slot 303 a is also slanted, whereby the projection 303 aor 303 b suitably abuts the bottom surface at the slanted abutmentsurface of the projection 303 a or 303 b.

[0072] In the folded position of the top unit 200 shown FIG. 7B, thefirst projection 306 a is received in the slot 303 a of the controlmember 303, whereby the top unit 200 is folded onto the bottom unit 100at an attitude angle of zero degree with respect thereto. The receipt ofthe first projection 306 a by the slot 303 a prohibits the swivelmovement of the top unit 200 in the direction D2, thereby preventingrubbing or friction between the main surfaces of the top unit 200 andthe bottom unit 100 in the folded position. In addition, an unintendedswivel movement of the top unit 200 by an external force is alsoavoided, the external force being applied to any of the top unit 200 andthe bottom unit 100.

[0073] In the slightly unfolded position of the top unit 200 shown inFIG. 7C, for example, at an attitude angle of several degrees, the firstprojection 306 a on the shaft 305 is located outside the slot 303 a,whereby the top unit 200 can be swiveled in the direction D2 by 360degrees. In other words, the top unit 200 cannot be swiveled unless thetop unit 200 is unfolded or lifted with respect to the bottom unit 100via the hinge 300.

[0074] In the initial full-unfolded position of the top unit 200 shownin FIG. 7D, the second projection 306 b on the shaft 305 abuts the rearside wall of the control member 303 and is stopped thereby. Thisdetermines the attitude angle of the iniital full-unfolded positionbetween the top unit 200 and the bottom unit 100. The subsequent swivelmovement of the top unit 200 is not iterated herein for avoiding aduplication.

[0075] Second embodiment

[0076]FIGS. 8A to 8D illustrate the control member 303, a first foldedposition, an unfolded position and a second folded position,respectively, of the hinge used in a data processing apparatus accordingto a second embodiment of the present invention. The second embodimentis similar to the first embodiment except for the configuration of thecontrol member.

[0077] As shown in FIG. 8A, the control member 403 in the presentembodiment is located at the swivel center of the top unit 200, and hasa shape of partial truncated cone, wherein a front portion of atruncated cone is cut off along a plane passing chords of the top andbottom circles of the truncated cone. Thus, the control member 403 has atrapezoid plane 403 a at the front side thereof. The location of thetrapezoid plane 403 a is determined so that the top unit 200 is foldedonto the bottom unit 100 at an attitude angle of zero degree withrespect thereto upon abutment of projection 306 a or 306 b on the shaft305 to the trapezoid plane 403 a. It is to be noted that the trapezoidplane 403 a is slightly slanted corresponding to the slanted abutmentsurface of projection 306 a or 306 b.

[0078] As illustrated in FIG. 8B, in the hinge during the foldedposition, the first projection 306 a on the shaft 305 abuts thetrapezoid plane 403 a of the controlling projection 403, whereby the topunit 200 is folded onto the bottom unit 100 at an attitude angle of zerodegrees with respect thereto. The first projection 306 a abutting thetrapezoid plane 403 a prevents the top unit 200 from swiveling in thedirection D2, thereby preventing rubbing or friction between the mainsurfaces of the top unit 200 and the bottom unit 100 in the foldedposition. In addition, an unintended swivel movement of the top unit 200by an external force is also avoided.

[0079] When the top unit 200 is slightly unfolded from the bottom unit100, the first projection 306 a is released from the trapezoid plane 403a of the controlling projection 403, whereby the top unit 200 can beswiveled in the direction D2 within the range defined by the trapezoidplane 403 a. In other words, the top unit 200 cannot be swiveled withoutunfolding or raising the top unit 200 with respect to the bottom unit100 via the hinge.

[0080] After the top unit 200 is further unfolded or raised, as shown inFIG. 8C, the second projection 306 b abuts the rear side wall of thecontrol member 403 and thus is stopped thereby, whereby the attitudeangle between the top unit 200 and the bottom unit in the unfoldedposition is defined at 160 degrees in the present embodiment.

[0081] When the top unit 200 is swiveled in the direction D2 from theunfolded position of FIG. 8C, the second projection 306 b moves alongthe side wall of the control member while abutting thereto. After thetop unit 200 is swiveled by 90 degrees, the second projection 306 b onthe shaft 305 is located on the lateral side of the control member 403.In the present embodiment, the control member 403 having a truncatedconical shape except for the trapezoid plane 403 a maintains the initialattitude angle between the top unit 200 and the bottom unit 100 afterthe 90 degree swiveling movement of the top unit 200.

[0082] When the top unit 200 is further swiveled in the direction D2,the second projection 306 b abuts the trapezoid 403 a of the controlmember 403. In this position, the top unit 200 is folded onto the bottomunit 100 at an attitude angle of 180 degrees with respect to the bottomunit 100, with the display unit on the top unit 200 being exposed at thetop of the chassis. The trapezoid plane 403 a in association with thesecond projection 306 b prevents the swiveling of the top unit 200 atthe 180-degree swiveled position.

[0083] Third Embodiment

[0084]FIGS. 9A to 9D illustrate, similarly to FIGS. 8A to 8D,respectively, the hinge used in a data processing apparatus according toa third embodiment of the present invention. The third embodiment issimilar to the first embodiment except for the configuration of controlmember in the hinge.

[0085] As illustrated in FIG. 9A, the control member 503 in the hinge isdisposed at the location deviated from the swivel axis of the top unit200 toward the rear side, and has a configuration wherein the slantedangle of the side wall of the truncated cone is moderately changed alongthe circumferential direction. More specifically, the control member 503has a maximum slanted angle at the front side 503 a and a minimumslanted angle at the rear side 503 b, wherein the slanted angleincreases from the rear side toward the front side as viewed in thecircumferential direction. The maximum slanted angle at the front sideis determined so that the projection 306 a or 306 b abutting the sidewall at the front side allows the top unit 200 to be folded at anattitude angle of zero degree with respect to the bottom unit 100. Onthe other hand, the minimum slanted angle at the rear side is determinedso that the second projection 306 b abutting the side wall at the rearside allows the top unit 200 to be unfolded to an attitude angle of 160degrees with respect to the bottom unit 100.

[0086] As illustrated in the folded position shown in FIG. 9B, the firstprojection 306 a abuts the front side 503 a of the control member 503,whereby the top unit 200 is folded at an attitude angle of zero degreewith respect to the bottom unit 100. A slot, such as the slot 303 a inthe first embodiment, may be formed on the front side 503 a of thecontrol member 503 for preventing the top unit 200 from swiveling in thedirection D2.

[0087] When the top unit 200 is unfolded, as shown in FIG. 9C, thesecond projection 306 b abuts the rear side 503 b of the control member503 and is stopped thereby, whereby the attitude angle of the top unit200 with respect to the bottom unit 100 is determined at 160 degrees.

[0088] When the top unit 200 is swiveled in the direction D2 from theunfolded position of FIG. 9C, the second projection 306 b moves alongthe side wall of the control member 503 while abutting thereto. Theconfiguration wherein the slanted angle of the control member 503increases from the rear side 503 b toward the front side 503 a allowsthe attitude angle of the top unit 200 with respect to the bottom unit100 to increase from 160 degrees during the swiveling.

[0089] After the top unit 200 is further swiveled to allow the secondprojection 306 b to reach the front side 503 a, as shown in FIG. 9D, thetop unit 200 is folded onto the bottom unit 100 at an attitude angle of180 degrees, with the display unit 210 being exposed on the top of thechassis.

[0090] The contour of the control member 503 in the present embodimentmay cause a higher load compared, to the case of the truncated cone inthe first embodiment during the swivel movement of the top unit 200 inthe direction D2. This higher load can be lowered by a configurationwherein the abutment surfaces of the projections 306 a and 306 b matcheswith the side wall of the control member 503, as will be described laterwith reference to FIG. 12.

[0091] Fourth Embodiment

[0092]FIGS. 10A to 10D illustrate, similarly to FIGS. 8A to 8D, thehinge in a fourth embodiment of the present invention. The presentembodiment is similar to the first embodiment except for theconfiguration of the control member in the hinge. FIG. 11A shows thecellular phone of the present embodiment at a swiveled angle of 90degrees for the top unit 200 with respect to the bottom unit 100, andFIG. 11B is a sectional view taken along line XI-XI in FIG. 11A.

[0093] As shown in FIG. 10A, the control member 603 in the presentembodiment is such that a truncated cone is prolonged in the posteriordirection of the cellular phone, wherein the slanted angle of theprolonged truncated cone is changed among the front, rear and lateralsides thereof. More specifically, the slanted angle of the controlmember 603 is maximum at the front side 603 a and lateral sides 603 c,and minimum at the rear side 603 b, with the slanted angle of theintermediate side being moderately changed. The slanted angle of thefront side 603 a and lateral sides 603 c is designed such that the topunit 200 is folded onto the bottom unit 100 at an attitude angle of zerodegree upon abutment of the projection 306 a or 306 b to the controlmember 603. On the other hand, the slanted angle at the rear side 603 bis designed such that the top unit 200 is unfolded at an attitude angleof 160 degrees with respect to the bottom unit 100 upon abutment of thesecond projection 306 b to the control member 603.

[0094] As illustrated in the folded position of FIG. 10B, the firstprojection 306 a abuts the front side 603 a of the control member 603,whereby the top unit 200 is folded onto the bottom unit 100 at anattitude angle of zero degree therebetween. A slot, such as the slot 303a in the first embodiment, may be provided on the control member 603.

[0095] When the top unit 200 is unfolded from the folded position ofFIG. 10B, the second projection 306 b on the shaft 305 abuts the rearside 603 b of the control member, as shown in FIG. 10C. This, allows thetop unit 200 to be stopped at an attitude angle of 160 degrees withrespect to the bottom unit 100.

[0096] When the top unit 200 is swiveled in the direction D2 from theunfolded position of FIG. 10C, the second projection 306 b moves alongthe side wall of the control member 603 while abutting thereto. Sincethe control member 603 has a slanted angle profile wherein the slantedangle increases from the rear side 603 b toward the lateral side 603 c,the attitude angle of the top unit 200 with respect to the bottom unit100 defined by the second projection 306 b increases when the top unit200 is swiveled from the unfolded position. Thus, the attitude angle ofthe top unit 200 assumes 180 degrees upon abutment of the secondprojection 306 b to the lateral side 603 c of the control member 603, asshown in FIGS. 11A and 11B. At this attitude of the cellular phone, theuser can operate the keyboard and watch the display unit comfortably.

[0097] When the top unit 200 is further swiveled from the 90 degreeswiveled position of FIGS. 11A and 11B, the second projection 306 babuts the front side 603 a of the control member 603, as shown in FIG.10D, whereby the top unit 200 is folded onto the bottom unit 100 at anattitude angle of 180 degrees.

[0098] Again in the present embodiment, the abutment surfaces of theprojections 306 a and 306 b correspond to the contour of the side wallof the control member 603, as will be described later.

[0099] As illustrated in FIGS. 11A and 11B, the top unit 200 is parallelto the bottom unit 100 upon a 90-degree swiveled position of the topunit 200 in the present embodiment. This attitude is convenient foroperating a camera unit in the case where the lens (or opening) 701 ofthe camera unit is provided on the top surface of the top unit 200.

[0100] As illustrated in FIGS. 11A and 11B, the display unit 201 isconveniently used as a monitor for operating the camera unit having thelens 701. In the illustrated attitude of the cellular phone, since thetop unit 200 is parallel to the bottom unit 100, the visual line of theuser observing the monitor 201 is conveniently parallel to the visualaxis 703 of the lens 701.

[0101] As described in connection with the third and fourth embodiments,the slanted angle profile, wherein the slanted angle of the controlmember 503 or 603 is changed along with the swivel movement of the topunit 200, controls the attitude angle of the top unit 200 during theswivel movement of the top unit 200 for the convenience of handling thecellular phone.

[0102] In other words, the swivel movement of the top unit 200 in thedirection D2 is converted to the turning movement of the top unit 200 inthe direction D1 by the slanted angle profile of the control member 503or 603. This means that the combination of the projections on the shaftand the control member configures a cam assembly.

[0103] Referring to FIG. 12, there is shown a contact angle of theprojection 306 b, exemplifying the relationship between the projections306 a and 306 b on the shaft 305 and the control member 503 (603) in thethird (fourth) embodiment.

[0104] In view that the slanted angle profile, wherein the slanted angleof the control member 503 changes along with the swiveled angle of thetop unit 200, increases the mechanical load during the swivel movementof the top unit 200, the abutment surfaces 801 and 802 of theprojections 306 a and 306 b as well as the tangential line of the sidewall of the control member 503 is designed to align with the radialdirection of the shaft 305, as illustrated in FIG. 12.

[0105] In the example of FIG. 12, the abutment surface 802 is alignedwith the radial direction of the shaft 305, and other abutment surfaces803 and 804 illustrated by imaginary lines are also aligned with theradial direction of the shaft 305.

[0106] The configuration shown in FIG. 12 provides a highest mechanicalefficiency in the swiveling movement of the top unit 200 with respect tothe bottom unit 100 while allowing the first or second projection 306 aor 306 b to abut the side wall of the control member 503. Thisconfiguration also provides an improvement of the mechanical strength ofthe components, whereby deformation of the first and second projections306 a and 306 b as well as the control member 503 can be prevented, suchas upon abutment of the second projection 306 b to the control member503 during an unfolding movement of the top unit 200.

[0107] In the above embodiment, the hinge of the present invention isused in the cellular phone; however, the hinge of the present inventioncan be used in any of the fold-type data processing apparatus.

[0108] Since the above embodiments are described only for examples, thepresent invention is not limited to the above embodiments and variousmodifications or alterations can be easily made therefrom by thoseskilled in the art without departing from the scope of the presentinvention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A fold-type data processing apparatus comprisinga first unit, a second unit and a hinge mechanism for coupling togethersaid first unit and said second unit and allowing said second unit toturn and swivel with respect to said first unit via said hingemechanism, said hinge mechanism comprising: a shaft having a first axismounting thereon said second unit for allowing said second unit to beturned around said first axis; a swiveling member fixed onto said firstunit and allowing said shaft and said second unit to swivel with respectto said first unit around a second axis perpendicular to said firstaxis; at least one projection member fixed onto said shaft; and acontrol member fixed onto said first unit and having a side wall, atleast a portion of said side wall having a slanted surface, wherein saidprojection member abuts said side wall to restrict a movement of saidsecond unit.
 2. The fold-type data processing apparatus according toclaim 1, wherein said control member comprises a swivel stopper formedon said side wall for preventing said second unit from swiveling aroundsaid second axis.
 3. The fold-type data processing apparatus accordingto claim 2, wherein said swivel stopper is a slot for receiving at leasta portion of said projection member.
 4. The fold-type data processingapparatus according to claim 2, wherein said swivel stopper is a planeformed on said side wall for abutting said projection member.
 5. Thefold-type data processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein saidprojection member abuts said side wall of said control member torestrict an attitude angle between said first unit and said second unitupon said turning of said second unit around said shaft.
 6. Thefold-type data processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein saidattitude angle is restricted at a specified angle between 160 degreesand 170 degrees upon said turning of said second unit.
 7. The fold-typedata processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said projectionmember moves along said side wall of said control member while abuttingthereto when said second unit is swiveled with respect to said firstunit, thereby restricting said attitude angle.
 8. The fold-type dataprocessing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said attitude angleis changed between said specified angle and 180 degrees when said secondunit is swiveled with respect to said first unit.
 9. The fold-type dataprocessing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said attitude angleis changed from said specified angle to said 180 degrees, when saidsecond unit is swiveled with respect to said first unit by a swiveledangle of 180 degrees after turning of said second unit from a foldedposition.
 10. The fold-type data processing apparatus according to claim8, wherein said attitude angle is changed from said specified angle tosaid 180 degrees, when said second unit is swiveled with respect to saidfirst unit by a swiveled angle of 90 degrees after turning of saidsecond unit from a folded position.
 11. The fold-type data processingapparatus according to claim 1, wherein said control member is of atrapezoid in a longitudinal sectional view thereof.
 12. The fold-typedata processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said projectionmember abuts said side wall in an abutment plane aligned with a radialdirection of said shaft.
 13. The fold-type data processing apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein said second unit mounts thereon a displayunit, said at least one projection member includes first and secondprojection members apart from one another in a turning direction of saidsecond unit, said first projection member abuts a first portion of saidcontrol member when said second unit is folded onto said first unit withsaid display unit opposing said second unit, said second projectionmember abuts a second portion of said control member when said secondunit is unfolded from said first unit by turning.
 14. The fold-type dataprocessing apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said first portionincludes a swivel stopper for restricting a swivel movement of saidsecond unit upon abutment of said first or second projection member tosaid first portion of said control member.
 15. The fold-type dataprocessing apparatus according to claim 13, wherein each of said firstand second projection members has an abutment surface having a tangentline extending in a radial direction of said shaft, and said side wallof said control member has a tangential line extending in said radialdirection.
 16. A hinge mechanism comprising: a base; a shaft having afirst axis; a first support member for supporting said shaft andallowing said shaft to rotate around said first axis; a second supportmember for supporting said first support member with respect to saidbase and allowing said first support member and said shaft to swivelwith respect to said base around a second axis perpendicular to saidfirst axis; and a cam assembly for converting a swivel movement of saidshaft with respect to said base to a rotational movement of said shaft.17. The hinge mechanism according to claim 16, wherein said cam assemblycomprises at least one projection member fixed onto said shaft and acontrol member fixed onto said base and having a side wall, at least aportion of said side wall having a slanted surface, and wherein saidprojection member abuts said slanted surface to restrict a movement ofsaid shaft.
 18. The hinge mechanism according to claim 16, wherein saidcam assembly comprises: first and second projection members fixed ontosaid shaft; and a control member having a side wall and fixed onto saidbase, said control member having a shape of trapezoid as viewed parallelto said first axis, wherein: said first projection member abuts a firstportion of said side wall in a closed position of said hinge mechanism;said second projection member abuts a second portion of said side wallin an open position of said hinge mechanism; said second projectionmoves along said side wall while abutting thereto upon a swivel movementof said first support member and said shaft to restrict a rotationalmovement of said shaft